Cruise ships have strict and discreet procedures for when a passenger dies on board. The crew uses code phrases: 'Operation Bright Star' for a medical emergency and 'Operation Rising Star' for a death. Most major vessels have a morgue to store the deceased.
Deaths on cruise ships are relatively rare. Research from 2000 to 2019 recorded 623 deaths across 78 cruise lines, with 89% being passengers. Common causes include falls, cardiac incidents, and suicides. The pandemic may have increased numbers, but with 30 million annual cruisers, the risk is low.
When a death occurs, a doctor examines the body, and crew inform travelling companions or next of kin. The death is logged, and the ship's flag state is notified. Suspicious circumstances are investigated by onboard security and local authorities at the next port.
The body is stored in the ship's morgue until a suitable port is reached. Cruise blogger Jenni Fielding notes that many ports refuse to accept bodies, so the deceased may remain on board for up to a week. The body is then flown home after local inspection and certification.
